Early this season, the LeBoldus Golden Suns’ Noah Dheilly — one of the Regina Intercollegiate Football League’s elite receivers — received a standing ovation.

And he hadn’t even made a catch.

Instead, he had told his story.

On Sept. 23, it was Terry Fox Day at Dr. Martin LeBoldus Catholic High School, where Dheilly is a Grade 12 student. Dheilly stood before 800-plus students and teachers during a special presentation and discussed a four-year battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“A lot of people wouldn’t know from looking at me what my journey has been,” says Dheilly, 17, who was diagnosed with cancer of the blood when he was 4 1/2 years old.

“Most of the kids at LeBoldus had no idea that I had cancer. Many people were shocked. Afterwards, teachers came up to me and gave me hugs. I was just speechless. It made me realize that I touched some people and that they got something from it.

“Some of the teachers came up to me and said, ‘I can’t imagine my four-year-old having cancer.’ ”

“It was something that deeply resonated with our students and staff,” Schaan says, “and that showed in an immediate and lengthy spontaneous standing ovation that occurred upon completion of the presentation.”

Monica Archembault, Dheilly’s mother, had contacted the school two weeks before Terry Fox Day and indicated that her son would be interested in sharing his story. The presentation also included talks by Archembault and two of Noah’s cousins (Brooke and Kendalynn Culbert). A mass was then held, followed by a walk-run event on a rainy day. The net result was slightly more than $7,600 in fundraising for the Terry Fox Foundation.

LeBoldus Golden Suns’ Noah Dheilly, who overcame a childhood battle with leukemia, is one of the Regina Intercollegiate Football League’s top receivers.Bryan Schlosser /
Regina Leader-Post

“(Dheilly’s) challenges have been many — and adversity is bumpy — but as one begins to emerge, the strength that is exhibited is truly inspirational,” Schaan says.

Dheilly began to demonstrate that strength after, somewhat by accident, being diagnosed with leukemia.

His older brother — current University of Regina Rams defensive lineman Nicholas Dheilly — was visiting the doctor because of cold sores. The physician happened to see Noah and inquired: “Is he OK?”

“I was very pale,” Noah recalls. “I had some blood work done. Three hours later, my parents got a call.”

So began a four-year ordeal for the family — Richard Dheilly, Archembault, and their sons Noah, Nicholas (18) and Dominique (16).

“I remember going to the hospital and knowing that I was going to be there for a long time,” Noah says.

Initially, Noah was not informed that he had cancer, being as young as he was. He was instead told that he was “very sick.”

Within a year, Noah realized that he had cancer while playing with other kids who were being treated in the children’s ward at the Pasqua Hospital.

“I started to realize that I wasn’t just sick with the flu,” Noah says.

“It was painful to watch everyone’s lives evolve when all I could do was sit in the hospital.”

For all but one month of a four-year period, Noah was in hospital while undergoing a slow but ultimately effective form of treatment.

“I had chemotherapy every month, and the chemo was injected into my spine so (the cancer) wouldn’t spread to my brain,” Noah says.

“Every time I had chemo, they gave me a stuffed animal. I had about 50 of them at home.”

At one point, Dheilly felt well enough to attend elementary school classes at Ecole Monseigneur de Laval, but he eventually felt too sick. Nonetheless, he devotedly kept up with his studies while in hospital.

“I remember doing homework every night with my mom before going to bed,” Noah says. “I would also do homework during blood transfusions and stuff.”

Noah maintained a positive attitude — buoyed by the support of his family and encouragement from medical personnel — but some trying days were inevitable.

“They have a play structure in the hospital and my brothers played on it,” Noah says. “I couldn’t go on it because I was hooked up to IVs. I think I was only able to go down that slide once.”

Everything has been looking up since Sept. 9, 2006, when Noah went for a check-up and was declared cancer-free.

He received an annual check-up for the next 10 years, without any sign of a recurrence. On Sept. 9 of this year, he was given the best news of all. Annual visits to the doctor are no longer required.

While celebrating the all-important 10-year milestone by going out to dinner with his family, Dheilly had just begun what has become a stellar season with LeBoldus. In five games this season, he has caught 12 passes for 388 yards — an average of 32.3 yards per reception — and six touchdowns with the undefeated Golden Suns (whose roster also includes Dominique, a Grade 10 receiver who is also among the league leaders).

Moreover, Noah Dheilly recently committed to join the Rams for the 2017 Canada West season, attaining another long-standing goal.

After being discharged from hospital, Noah began playing football at the first opportunity.

“My older brother was playing football and I just tried to be like him,” Noah says. “I’m just trying to make my own name for myself now.”

Noah has done precisely that, impressing Golden Suns head football coach John Foord in the process.

Foord lauds Noah as a “fine team leader” who, in addition to excelling on the field, has set an example by taking advantage of off-season training opportunities.

“He is a smart football player who is able to adapt quickly to whatever situation presents itself — a skill he was forced to learn at a very early age,” says Foord, who has coached LeBoldus to four consecutive provincial 4A football championships.

“What I am most proud of for Noah is his growth and maturity over his years at LeBoldus.”

With maturity comes perspective, something he was able to share with everyone at his school.

“What I want to say to kids is that you can have tough spots in life, but never worry,” Noah says. “Tomorrow’s always a new day. Never let the negatives reflect on your future.”

For Noah, the future is as bright as his upbeat, pleasant personality. His appreciation for the current good fortune is enhanced by reflection on everything he endured and overcame over a four-year period.

“I feel glad to have put everything behind me,” says Noah, who has yet to miss a football game or practice since taking up his favourite sport.

“Now that I’m older, I appreciate life a little bit more. I realize how fast it can be taken away from you. I cherish every day like it’s my last.”

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